Endoscope system, processor device, and method for operating endoscope system

ABSTRACT

A subject irradiated with violet light and green light is imaged to obtain RGB signals, based on which a base image is produced. Frequency filtering processing is applied to the B signal to obtain a blood vessel extraction signal, in which a most superficial blood vessel, a superficial blood vessel, and a middle-layer blood vessel at different depths are extracted. Edge strength of each blood vessel in the blood vessel extraction signal is calculated. Display control processing based on the edge strength of each blood vessel is applied to the base image. Thereby, a first image or a second image is produced. In the first image, the most superficial blood vessel, the superficial blood vessel, and the middle-layer blood vessel are displayed in a distinguishable manner. In the second image, the most superficial blood vessel, the superficial blood vessel, and the middle-layer blood vessel are selectively enhanced or suppressed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C § 119 to JapanesePatent Application No. 2013-190568 filed on Sep. 13, 2013. The aboveapplication is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in itsentirety, into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an endoscope system, a processordevice, and a method for operating an endoscope system, for enhancingstructure of blood vessels and the like by use of narrowband light inobservation.

2. Description Related to the Prior Art

In a medical field, diagnosis and treatment using an endoscope system,having a light source device, an endoscope, and a processor device,become widespread. For such diagnosis and treatment, normal observationand narrowband light observation are performed. In the normalobservation, an observation object is imaged in its entirety by usingbroadband light such as white light. In the narrowband lightobservation, the structure of tissue such as blood vessels or ductalstructure in the observation object is enhanced by using narrowbandlight having a specific narrow wavelength range.

In the narrowband light observation, both superficial blood vesselsdistributed in superficial tissue of the observation object andmiddle-layer blood vessels distributed in middle-to-deep tissue of theobservation object are enhanced using blue narrowband light. However,there may be cases where the observation is focused only on thesuperficial blood vessels or the middle-layer blood vessels, dependingon a purpose of diagnosis. In this case, it is desirable to enhance onlyone of the superficial blood vessel and the middle-layer blood vesseland suppress the other. According to U. S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2012/0197076 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Laid-OpenPublication No. 2012-152459), the superficial blood vessel or themiddle-layer blood vessel is extracted from a B/G image, which has aluminance ratio B/G between a blue image having tissue information aboutthe superficial tissue and a green image having tissue information aboutthe middle-to-deep tissue. An image of the extracted blood vessel issuperimposed on a base image, so that the superficial blood vessel andthe middle-layer blood vessel are enhanced or suppressed selectively.

Of the blood vessels in the observation object, the superficial bloodvessels are critical to the diagnosis. For the purpose of improvingaccuracy in diagnosis, it is desirable to display a superficial bloodvessel, which is located deeper than a most superficial blood vessel,and the most superficial blood vessel, which is located in closevicinity to the surface of mucous membrane, in a distinguishable manner,and selectively enhance or suppress the blood vessels. However, in mostcases, the blue image contains both of the most superficial blood vesseland the superficial blood vessel. It is difficult to extract the mostsuperficial blood vessel and the superficial blood vessel independentlyfrom the B/G image described in the U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2012/0197076, and hence to display the most superficial blood vesseland the superficial blood vessel separately or in a distinguishablemanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system, aprocessor device, and a method for operating the endoscope, capable ofdisplaying a most superficial blood vessel and a superficial bloodvessel, which is located deeper than the most superficial blood vessel,in a distinguishable manner, and selectively enhancing or suppressingthe blood vessels.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, the endoscope system ofthe present invention comprises an image signal generator, a base imagegenerator, a frequency filtering processing unit, an edge strengthcalculator, and a special image generator. The image signal generatorimages a surface of mucous membrane of an observation object andproduces color image signals composed of image signals of differentcolors. The base image generator produces a base image based on thecolor image signals. The frequency filtering processing unit appliesfrequency filtering processing to at least the image signal with a shortwavelength of the color image signals and obtains a blood vesselextraction signal in which blood vessels at different depths areextracted. The edge strength calculator calculates edge strength of theeach blood vessel based on the blood vessel extraction signal. Thespecial image generator applies display control processing to the baseimage based on the edge strength of the each blood vessel and produces aspecial image in which a display of the each blood vessel is controlled.

It is preferable that the blood vessels in the blood vessel extractionsignal include a first-layer blood vessel and a second-layer bloodvessel located deeper than the first-layer blood vessel. In the bloodvessel extraction signal, the first-layer blood vessel is represented bya falling edge with the edge strength exceeding a predetermined value.The second-layer blood vessel is represented by a falling edge with theedge strength less than or equal to the predetermined value.

It is preferable that the special image is a first special image inwhich one of the first-layer and second-layer blood vessels isrepresented by a falling edge and the other blood vessel is representedby a rising edge.

It is preferable that the first-layer blood vessel is represented by thefalling edge and the second-layer blood vessel is represented by therising edge in the first special image.

It is preferable that the special image generator includes a firstdisplay control image generator and an image superimposing unit. Thefirst display control image generator produces a first display controlimage from the blood vessel extraction signal. The falling edge of thesecond-layer blood vessel is changed to a rising edge in the firstdisplay control image. The image superimposing unit adds the firstdisplay control image to the base image and changes a falling edge ofthe second-layer blood vessel in the base image to the rising edge andthereby produces the first special image.

It is preferable that the special image is a second special image inwhich the first-layer and second-layer blood vessels are selectivelyenhanced or suppressed.

It is preferable that the special image generator includes a seconddisplay control image generator and an image superimposing unit. Thesecond display control image generator produces a second display controlimage based on the blood vessel extraction signal. An amount forenhancing or suppressing the each blood vessel is determined inaccordance with the edge strength in the second display control image.The image superimposing unit superimposes the second display controlimage on the base image and produces the second special image.

It is preferable that the first-layer blood vessel is a most superficialblood vessel and the second-layer blood vessel is a superficial bloodvessel or a middle-layer blood vessel.

It is preferable that the image signal with the short wavelengthcorresponds to violet light having a wavelength range of 380 to 440 nm.

It is preferable that the endoscope system further includes a violetlight emitter for applying the violet light to the observation object.The image signal with the short wavelength is obtained by imaging theobservation object under the violet light.

It is preferable that the endoscope system further includes a whitelight emitter and a spectral calculation unit. The white light emitterapplies white light to the observation object. The spectral calculationunit performs spectral calculation based on a white light image of theobservation object captured under the white light and thereby producesthe image signal with the short wavelength.

It is preferable that the color image signals include the image signalwith a long wavelength which corresponds to green light in a wavelengthrange of 480 to 600 nm or green narrowband light in a wavelength rangeof 530 to 550 nm. It is preferable that the base image is produced basedon the image signal with the short wavelength and the image signal withthe long wavelength.

The processor device of the present invention comprises a receiver, abase image generator, a frequency filtering processing unit, an edgestrength calculator, and a special image generator. The receiverreceives the color image signals. The base image generator produces abase image based on the color image signals. The frequency filteringprocessing unit applies frequency filtering processing to at least theimage signal with a short wavelength of the color image signals andobtains a blood vessel extraction signal in which blood vessels atdifferent depths are extracted. The edge strength calculator calculatesedge strength of the each blood vessel based on the blood vesselextraction signal. The special image generator applies display controlprocessing to the base image based on the edge strength of the eachblood vessel and produces a special image in which a display of the eachblood vessel is controlled. The processor device is connected to anendoscope having an image signal generator. The image signal generatorimages a surface of mucous membrane of an observation object to producecolor image signals composed of image signals of different colors.

The method for operating an endoscope system according to the presentinvention comprises a color image signal producing step, a base imageproducing step, a blood vessel extraction signal obtaining step, an edgestrength calculating step, and a special image producing step. In thecolor image signal producing step, an image signal generator images asurface of mucous membrane of an observation object and produces colorimage signals composed of image signals of different colors. In the baseimage producing step, a base image generator produces a base image basedon the color image signals. In the blood vessel extraction signalobtaining step, a frequency filter processing unit applies frequencyfiltering processing to at least the image signal with a shortwavelength of the color image signals and obtains a blood vesselextraction signal in which blood vessels at different depths areextracted. In the edge strength calculating step, an edge strengthcalculator calculates edge strength of the each blood vessel based onthe blood vessel extraction signal. In the special image producing step,a special image generator applies display control processing to the baseimage based on the edge strength of the each blood vessel and produces aspecial image in which a display of the each blood vessel is controlled.

According to the present invention, the display control processing isperformed in accordance with the edge strengths of the blood vessels ofpredetermined depths such as the most superficial blood vessel, thesuperficial blood vessel, and the middle-layer blood vessel. Thereby,the most superficial blood vessel, the superficial blood vessel, and themiddle-layer blood vessel are displayed separately or in adistinguishable manner, and enhanced or suppressed selectively in thedisplay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantage thereof, reference is now made to the subsequent descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an endoscope system;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the endoscope system accordingto a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an emission spectrum of normal light;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing emission spectrums of violet light V and greenlight G;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing spectral transmittance of a B filter, a Gfilter, and an R filter;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing spectral transmittance of complementary colorfilters of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and G (green);

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functions of a special structuredisplay controller;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a color-enhanced B image signal(or a B image signal of a base image) and the signal distribution of theB image signal at a predetermined pixel line;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing spectral reflection spectrums of mucousmembrane and a blood vessel, obtained by simulation, at predetermineddepths;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the signal distribution of a blood vesselextraction signal at the predetermined pixel line;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the signal distribution of a first displaycontrol signal at the predetermined pixel line;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relation between edge strength and ablood vessel enhancing amount or a blood vessel suppressing amount;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the signal distribution of a second displaycontrol image at the predetermined pixel line;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a method for producing a first specialimage;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of a method for producing a secondspecial image;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a sequential flow of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the functions of an endoscopeaccording to a second embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a rotary filter;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the functions of a special imageprocessing unit according to a third embodiment; and

FIG. 20 is a graph showing an emission spectrum of normal lightdifferent from FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(First Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 10 according to a firstembodiment has an endoscope 12, a light source device 14, a processordevice 16, a monitor 18, and a console 19. The endoscope 12 is connectedoptically to the light source device 14, and electrically to theprocessor device 16. The endoscope 12 has an insert section 12 a to beintroduced into a body cavity, a control handle unit 12 b provided at aproximal end of the insert section 12 a, a flexible assembly 12 cprovided at a tip end of the insert section 12 a, and a head assembly 12d. Operating an angle knob 12 e provided on the control handle unit 12 bflexibly bends the flexible assembly 12 c. The bending operation aimsthe head assembly 12 d at a desired direction.

The control handle unit 12 b is provided with a mode switch 13 a and azooming operation unit 13 b, in addition to the angle knob 12 e. Themode switch 13 a is used for switching between two types of modes, thatis, a normal observation mode and a special observation mode. In thenormal observation mode, a normal image produced using white light isdisplayed on the monitor 18. In the special observation mode, a specialimage is displayed on the monitor 18. The special image is producedusing light which makes contrast of a specific structure such as asuperficial blood vessel different from that of mucous membrane andthereby enhances the specific structure in the special image. Thespecial images include a first special image, in which a plurality ofblood vessels in an observation object are displayed separately or in adistinguishable manner according to their depths, and a second specialimage, in which the plurality of blood vessels having certain depths inthe observation object are selectively enhanced or suppressed. Thezooming operation unit 13 b is used for operating a zooming lens 47 (seeFIG. 2). Moving the zooming lens 47 on a telephoto side magnifies theobservation object. Note that, in the special observation mode, theconsole 19 is operated to choose which one of the first and secondspecial images is displayed.

The processor device 16 is electrically connected to the monitor 18 andthe console 19. The monitor 18 outputs and displays image informationand the like. The console 19 functions as a UI (user interface) forreceiving input of functional settings and the like. Note that anexternal storage (not shown) may be connected to the processor device 16to store the image information and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 14 is provided with a V-LED(violet light emitting diode) 20 a, a B-LED (blue light emitting diode)20 b, a G-LED (green light emitting diode) 20 c, a R-LED (red lightemitting diode) 20 d, a source controller 21 for controlling theoperation of the four LEDs, and an optical path coupler 23 for couplingoptical paths of the four colors of light from the LEDs 20 a to 20 d.The light coupled by the optical path coupler 23 is applied to theobservation object through a light guide 41, which extends through theinsert section 12 a, and a lighting lens 45. Note that a LD (laserdiode) may be used instead of the LED.

The V-LED 20 a emits violet light V having a center wavelength of 405 nmand a wavelength range of 380 to 440 nm. The B-LED 20 b emits blue lightB having a center wavelength of 460 nm and a wavelength range of 440 to480 nm. The G-LED 20 c emits green light G having normal distributionfrom 480 to 600 nm. The R-LED 20 d emits red light R having a centerwavelength of 620 to 630 nm and a wavelength range of 600 to 650 nm.

In the normal observation mode, the source controller 21 turns on all ofthe V-LED 20 a, the B-LED 20 b, the G-LED 20 c, and the R-LED 20 d. Asshown in FIG. 3, mixing the four colors of light i.e. the violet lightV, the blue light B, the green light G, and the red light R producesnormal light. On the other hand, in the special observation mode, theV-LED 20 a and the G-LED 20 c are simultaneously turned on to emit theviolet light V and the green light G at the same time. As shown in FIG.4, the violet light V from the V-LED 20 a and the green light G aregenerated at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light guide 41, which extends through auniversal cord for connecting the light source device 14 and theendoscope 12, transmits the light coupled by the optical path coupler 23to the head assembly 12 d of the endoscope 12. Note that a multimodefiber is available as the light guide 41. By way of example, asmall-diameter fiber cable having a core diameter of 105 μm, a claddiameter of 125 μm, and an outer diameter ϕ of 0.3 to 0.5 mm including aprotective layer, being a jacket, is usable.

The head assembly 12 d of the endoscope 12 contains a lighting opticalsystem 30 a and an imaging optical system 30 b. The lighting opticalsystem 30 a has the lighting lens 45, through which the lighttransmitted through the light guide 41 is applied to the observationobject. The imaging optical system 30 b has an objective lens 46, thezooming lens 47, and an image sensor 48. The light reflected from theobservation object is incident upon the image sensor 48 through theobjective lens 46 and the zooming lens 47. A reflected image of theobservation object is formed on the image sensor 48.

The image sensor 48 is a color imaging device, which captures thereflected image of the observation object and outputs an image signal.The image sensor 48 is preferably a CCD (charge coupled device) imagesensor, a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensor,or the like. The image sensor used in the present invention is a colorimage sensor for obtaining three-color image signals of R (red), G(green), and B (blue), that is, a so-called RGB image sensor having RGBfilters in its imaging surface. As shown in FIG. 5, the B filter allowslight of 340 to 520 nm to pass through. The G filter allows light of 450to 630 nm to pass through. The R filter allows light of 580 to 770 nm topass through. Accordingly, of the reflected light from the observationobject, the violet light V passes through the B filter. The blue light Band the green light G pass through both the B filter and the G filter.The red light R passes through the R filter.

Note that the image sensor 48 may be a so-called complementary colorimage sensor having complementary color filters of C (cyan), M(magenta), Y (yellow), and G (green) having spectral transmittance ofFIG. 6. In the case of using the complementary color image sensor, theRGB three-color image signals are obtained by color conversion of CMYGfour-color image signals. In this case, a color conversion means formaking the color conversion from the CMYG four-color image signals intothe RGB three-color image signals is necessary in at least one of theendoscope 12 and the processor device 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image signals outputted from the image sensor 48are sent to a CDS/AGC circuit 50. The CDS/AGC circuit 50 appliescorrelated double sampling (CDS) and automatic gain control (AGC) to theimage signals, being analog signals. The image signals subjected to theCDS and the AGC by the CDS/AGC circuit 50 are converted into digitalimage signals by an A/D (Analog/Digital) converter 52. The converteddigital image signals are inputted to the processor device 16.

The processor device 16 is provided with a receiver 53, a light amountcalculator 54, a digital signal processor (DSP) 56, a noise remover 58,an image processing switching unit 60, a normal image processing unit62, a special image processing unit 64, and a video signal generator 66.The receiver 53 receives the digital RGB image signals from theendoscope 12. The R image signal corresponds to a signal outputted fromR pixels (pixels having the R filters) of the image sensor 48. The Gimage signal corresponds to a signal outputted from G pixels (pixelshaving the G filters) of the image sensor 48. The B image signalcorresponds to a signal outputted from B pixels (pixels having the Bfilters) of the image sensor 48.

The light amount calculator 54 calculates an exposure amount based onthe digital RGB image signals received by the receiver 53, andcalculates a target light amount to be used in the normal observationmode or the special observation mode based on the calculated exposureamount. The light amount calculator 54 produces a target light amountsetting signal, which determines a target light amount of each LED 20 ato 20 d, based on the calculated target light amount and a set lightamount ratio among the V-LED 20 a, the B-LED 20 b, the G-LED 20 c, andthe R-LED 20 d.

In the normal observation mode, for example, the target light amount ofthe V-LED 20 a is calculated by “P×(a/(a+b+c+d))” where “P” representsthe light amount calculated by the light amount calculator 54 and theset light amount ratio is

“V-LED:B-LED:G-LED:R-LED=a:b:c:d”. The target light amount of the B-LED20 b is calculated by “P×(b/(a+b+c+d))”. The target light amount of theG-LED 20 c is calculated by “P×(c/(a+b+c+d))”. The target light amountof the R-LED 20 d is calculated by “P×(d/(a+b+c+d))”. In the specialobservation mode, the target light amount of the V-LED 20 a iscalculated by “Q×(m/(m+n))” where “Q” represents the light amountcalculated by the light amount calculator 54 and the set light amountratio is “V-LED:G-LED=m:n”. The target light amount of the G-LED 20 c iscalculated by “Q×(n/(m+n))”. Note that the light amount ratio is set bythe console 19 to different values between the normal observation modeand the special observation mode.

The DSP 56 applies gamma correction processing and color correctionprocessing to the RGB image signals. The noise remover 58 applies noiseremoval processing (for example, by a method of moving averages, amedian filter method, or the like) to the RGB image signals after thegamma correction and the like by the DSP 56. Thereby noise is removedfrom the RGB image signals. After the noise reduction, the RGB imagesignals are sent to the image processing switching unit 60.

The image processing switching unit 60 sends the RGB image signals tothe normal image processing unit 62 in a case where the endoscope system10 is put into the normal observation mode by operation of the modeswitch 13 a, and sends the RGB image signals to the special imageprocessing unit 64 in a case where the endoscope system 10 is put intothe special observation mode.

The normal image processing unit 62, having a normal color converter 68,a normal color enhancer 70, and a normal structure enhancer 72, producesa normal image in which the observation object is expressed in normal(actual) color of the tissue. The normal color converter 68 appliescolor conversion processing to the digital RGB image signals, andoutputs the color-converted RGB image signals. Furthermore, the normalcolor converter 68 applies gradation conversion processing to thecolor-converted RGB image signals, and outputs the gradation-convertedRGB image signals. The normal color enhancer 70 applies various types ofcolor enhancement processing to the gradation-converted RGB imagesignals. The normal structure enhancer 72 applies structure enhancementprocessing, including sharpness processing, edge enhancement processing,and the like, to the color-enhanced RGB image signals. The RGB imagesignals, after being subjected to the structure enhancement processingby the normal structure enhancer 72, are inputted as the RGB imagesignals of the normal image to the video signal generator 66.

The special image processing unit 64 has a special color converter 74, aspecial color enhancer 76, and a special structure display controller78. The special image processing unit 64 produces a first special image,in which most superficial blood vessels, superficial blood vessels, andmiddle-layer blood vessels are displayed separately or in adistinguishable manner, or a second special image, in which the mostsuperficial blood vessels, superficial blood vessels, and themiddle-layer blood vessels are selectively enhanced or suppressed. Thedepth from the surface of the mucous membrane to the most superficialblood vessel, the superficial blood vessel, and the middle-layer bloodvessel increases in this order. The special color converter 74 appliescolor conversion processing to the digital RGB image signals, andoutputs color-converted RGB image signals. In the special observationmode, the violet light V and the green light G, not detected by the Rpixels but by the B pixels and the G pixels of the image sensor 48, areapplied simultaneously to the observation object. Thus, the B imagesignal and the G image signal contain information, including informationabout the blood vessels and the like, about the observation object,while the R image signal hardly contains the information. For thisreason, as represented by the following conversion expressions (1) to(3), the color conversion processing is performed based only on the Bimage signal and the G image signal, without using the R image signal.Color-converted R image signal=k1×G image signal  (1)Color-converted G image signal=k2×B image signal  (2)Color-converted B image signal=k3×B image signal  (3)Wherein, “k1” to “k3” are positive coefficients.

Furthermore, the special color converter 74 applies gradation conversionprocessing to the color-converted RGB image signals, and outputs thegradation-converted RGB image signals. The special color enhancer 76applies various types of color enhancement processing to thegradation-converted RGB image signals. The special structure displaycontroller 78 applies display control processing of the most superficialblood vessels, the superficial blood vessels, and the middle-layer bloodvessels to the color-enhanced RGB image signals, as described in detailbelow. The RGB image signals, after being subjected to the displaycontrol processing by the special structure display controller 78, areinputted to the video signal generator 66.

As shown in FIG. 7, the special structure display controller 78 includesa base image generator 80, a frequency filtering processing unit 81, anedge strength calculator 82, a first display control image generator 83,a second display control image generator 84, and an image superimposingunit 85. The RGB image signals, after being subjected to the colorenhancement processing by the special color enhancer 76, are inputted toeach of the base image generator 80 and the frequency filteringprocessing unit 81. Note that a special image generator of the presentinvention is constituted of the first display control image generator 83and the image superimposing unit 85, or the second display control imagegenerator 84 and the image superimposing unit 85.

As shown in FIG. 8, of the color-enhanced RGB image signals, the B imagesignal has falling edges corresponding to most superficial blood vesselsC1A, superficial blood vessels C1B, and a middle-layer blood vessel C2,which have lower pixel values than mucous membrane M, in a predeterminedpixel line PL. Of the blood vessels which correspond to the fallingedges, the most superficial blood vessels C1A have the lowest pixelvalues, the superficial blood vessels C1B have the second lowest pixelvalues, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 has the highest pixelvalue. The G image signal of the color-enhanced RGB image signals hassimilar distribution to the B image signal, as shown in FIG. 8.

A pixel value decreases with decreasing depth of a blood vessel andthereby the contrast between the blood vessels and the mucous membrane Mincreases. The reason for this is as follows. Of the color-enhanced RGBimage signals, the B image signal and the G image signal correspond tosignals obtained by the color conversion processing (see the aboveconversion expressions (1) to (3)) of the B image signal, which isobtained by photoelectrically converting the violet light V with the Bpixels of the image sensor 48. Hence, the pixel values of the B imagesignal and the G image signal at blood vessel portions are greatlyinfluenced by the amount of light reflected from blood vesselsirradiated with the violet light V. As shown in a simulation result inFIG. 9, the reflectance of a blood vessel for the violet light V, havinga wavelength range of 380 to 440 nm, depends on a blood vessel depth d,which represents a distance from the surface of a mucous membrane to theblood vessel.

FIG. 9 shows reflectances R1 to R3 of blood vessels having a diameter(thickness of the blood vessel) of 10 μm for light having apredetermined wavelength, and a reflectance R4 of a blood vessel havinga diameter (thickness) of 40 μm for the light having the predeterminedwavelength, in addition to a reflectance Rm of the mucous membrane M.“R1” represents the reflectance at a blood vessel depth d of 5 μm. “R2”represents the reflectance at a blood vessel depth d of 10 μm. “R3”represents the reflectance at a blood vessel depth d of 15 μm, and “R4”represents the reflectance at a blood vessel depth d of 40 μm. As shownin FIG. 9, it is apparent from the relation between the wavelength andthe reflectance of the blood vessel that the reflectance of the bloodvessel decreases with decreasing depth of the blood vessel and hence thepixel values, which correspond to the blood vessel, of the B and G imagesignals decrease with decreasing depth of the blood vessel, in awavelength range of the violet light V, i.e. 380 to 440 nm. In otherwords, in the B image signal and the G image signal, the contrastbetween the blood vessel and the mucous membrane M increases withdecreasing depth of the blood vessel.

Note that the fact “the pixel value corresponding to the blood vesseldecreases with decreasing depth of the blood vessel” means that visiblelight having a wavelength range of 440 nm or less, such as the violetlight V, provides resolving power for the blood vessel depths. On thecontrary, as for light having a wavelength range of more than 440 nm,the pixel value corresponding to the blood vessel portion hardly changeseven if the blood vessel depth decreases because the reflectance isalmost the same at the blood vessel depth d in a range of 5 to 15 μm.Namely, the light having the wavelength range of more than 440 nm doesnot provide the resolving power for the blood vessel depth d within therange of 5 to 15 μm. Note that, in this embodiment, the most superficialblood vessel C1A is situated in a depth range from the approximatesurface of the mucous membrane to 8 μm. The superficial blood vessel C1Bis situated in a depth range approximately from 8 μm to 20 μm. Themiddle-layer blood vessel C2 is situated in a depth range from 20 μm to45 μm. However, definition of the depth is not limited thereto.

The base image generator 80 produces a base image from thecolor-enhanced RGB image signals. The base image is composed of RGBimage signals which correspond to the color-enhanced RGB image signals,respectively. The frequency filtering processing unit 81 appliesfrequency filtering processing to the color-enhanced B image signal. Thefrequency filtering processing is to extract frequency band componentscorresponding to the thicknesses of the most superficial blood vesselC1A, the superficial blood vessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vesselC2, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10, applying the frequency filteringprocess to the B image signal allows obtainment of a blood vesselextraction signal, which has negative output values at portionscorresponding to the most superficial blood vessels C1A, the superficialblood vessels C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2, and an outputvalue “0” at a portion corresponding to the mucous membrane M. Note thatthe frequency filtering processing unit 81 may apply the frequencyfiltering processing to both of the B image signal and the G imagesignal.

The edge strength calculator 82 calculates an edge strength of eachblood vessel contained in the blood vessel extraction signal. Since theblood vessel extraction signal is obtained by applying the frequencyfiltering processing to the B image signal and the G image signal, inwhich pixel values decrease with decreasing blood vessel depth, asdescribed above, an absolute value of the output value increases withdecreasing blood vessel depth. In other words, the contrast between theblood vessel and the mucous membrane M increases with decreasing bloodvessel depth and thereby the edge strength increases. Hence, as shown inFIG. 10, of the edge strengths calculated by the edge strengthcalculator 82, the most superficial blood vessel C1A has the highestedge strength P1A. The superficial blood vessel C1B has the secondhighest edge strength P1B. The middle-layer blood vessel C2 has thelowest edge strength P2 (P1A>P1B>P2).

The first display control image generator 83 produces a first displaycontrol image from the blood vessel extraction signal. The first displaycontrol image is used for displaying the most superficial blood vesselC1A, the superficial blood vessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vesselC2 separately or in a distinguishable manner. The first display controlimage generator 83 changes the falling edge of the blood vessel havingan edge strength of P1B or less into a rising edge, and increases anoutput value of the rising edge so that the blood vessel is madebrighter than the mucous membrane in an image which is obtained bysuperimposing the first display control image on the base image. Theblood vessel having an edge strength of more than P1B is maintained asthe falling edge. Thus, the first display control image is obtained.Taking the case of a first display control image of FIG. 11 as anexample, the most superficial blood vessels C1A are not changed intorising edges because an edge strength P1A exceeds P1B, being a thresholdvalue. On the contrary, as for the superficial blood vessels C1B and themiddle-layer blood vessel C2 whose edge strengths P1B and P2 are lessthan or equal to the threshold value P1B, the falling edges of thesuperficial blood vessels C1B and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 arechanged into rising edges, and output values of the rising edges areincreased by multiplying a predetermined coefficient to the originaloutput values thereof.

The second display control image generator 84 produces a second displaycontrol image from the blood vessel extraction signal. The seconddisplay control image is used for selectively enhancing or suppressingdisplay of the most superficial blood vessel C1A, the superficial bloodvessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2. The second displaycontrol image generator 84 sets an amount (enhancing amount orsuppressing amount) for enhancing or suppressing each blood vessel inaccordance with the edge strength of the blood vessel in the bloodvessel extraction signal, and thereby produces the second displaycontrol image. The second display control image generator 84 has alookup table (LUT) 84 a for storing the relation between the edgestrength and the enhancing amount or the suppressing amount of the bloodvessel. The enhancing amount or the suppressing amount of each bloodvessel is set with referring to the LUT 84 a. Thus, the second displaycontrol image is obtained. As shown in FIG. 12, in a case where theblood vessel having an edge strength exceeding the threshold value P1Bis enhanced and the blood vessel having an edge strength less than orequal to the threshold value P1B is suppressed, an input/output relation90 is used for an input exceeding the threshold value P1B, while aninput/output relation 91 is used for an input less than or equal to thethreshold value P1B.

Accordingly, the input/output relation 90 is used for the mostsuperficial blood vessel C1A since the edge strength P1A exceeds thethreshold value P1B. According to the input/output relation 90, anenhancing amount E1A corresponding to the edge strength P1A is set. Theinput/output relation 91 is used for the superficial blood vessel C1Band the middle-layer blood vessel C2 since the edge strengths P1B and P2are less than or equal to the threshold value P1B. According to theinput/output relation 91, suppressing amounts D1B and D2, correspondingto the respective edge strengths P1B and P2, are set. Thus, the seconddisplay control image is produced by setting the enhancing amount E1A tothe most superficial blood vessels C1A, the suppressing amount D1B tothe superficial blood vessels C1B, and the suppressing amount D2 to themiddle-layer blood vessel C2. Note that the input/output relation of theLUT is arbitrarily changeable by operation of the console 19 or thelike.

The image superimposing unit 85 superimposes the first display controlimage on the base image to produce a first special image, in which themost superficial blood vessels C1A, the superficial blood vessels C1B,and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 are displayed separately or in adistinguishable manner. Also, the image superimposing unit 85superimposes the second display control image on the base image toproduce a second special image, in which the most superficial bloodvessels C1A, the superficial blood vessels C1B, and the middle-layerblood vessel C2 are selectively enhanced or suppressed. The first andsecond display control images have an output value of “0” at a portioncorresponding to the mucous membrane M, so that the mucous membrane M isneither enhanced nor suppressed in the case of superimposing the firstor second display control image on the base image. Note that the imagesuperimposing unit 85 adds the first or second display control image onthe B image signal of the base image, but may add the first or seconddisplay control image on the G image signal or the R image signal of thebase image.

As shown in FIG. 14, taking the case of adding the first display controlimage of FIG. 11 to the B image signal of the base image of FIG. 8 as anexample, the falling edges of the most superficial blood vessels C1A aremaintained, while the falling edges of the superficial blood vessels C1Band the middle-layer blood vessel C2 are changed to the rising edgeswith increased output values. Thus, the first special image is obtained,in which the superficial blood vessels C1B and the middle-layer bloodvessel C2 are brighter than the mucous membrane M. As described above,the most superficial blood vessels C1A, the superficial blood vesselsC1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 in the first special image aredisplayed separately by representing the most superficial blood vesselsC1A as the falling edges and the superficial blood vessels C1B and themiddle-layer blood vessel C2 as the rising edges. Note that the mostsuperficial blood vessels C1A may be represented by rising edges and thesuperficial blood vessels C1B and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 maybe represented by falling edges in the first special image instead.

As shown in a second special image illustrated in FIG. 15, taking thecase of adding the second display control image of FIG. 13 to the Bimage signal of the base image of FIG. 8 as an example, the mostsuperficial blood vessels C1A have reduced pixel values and highcontrast to the mucous membrane M due to the addition of the seconddisplay control image. Thus, the most superficial blood vessels C1A areenhanced in the display. On the other hand, the superficial bloodvessels C1B and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 have increased pixelvalues and low contrast to the mucous membrane M due to the addition ofthe second display control image. Accordingly, the superficial bloodvessels C1B and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 are suppressed in thedisplay. Thus, the most superficial blood vessels C1A, the superficialblood vessels C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 are selectivelyenhanced or suppressed in the second special image.

The video signal generator 66 converts the RGB image signals of thenormal image inputted from the normal image processing unit 62 and theRGB image signals of the first special image and the RGB image signalsof the second special image inputted from the special image processingunit 64 into video signals displayable on the monitor 18. Based on theconverted video signals, the monitor 18 displays the normal image in thenormal observation mode, and the first special image or the secondspecial image in the special observation mode.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described withreferring to a flowchart of FIG. 16. First, in the normal observationmode, screening is performed from distant view (in a zoomed state).During the screening, if an area (lesion suspected area) suspected ofbeing a lesion such as a brownish area or redness is detected, thezooming operation unit 13 b is operated to magnify the display of thelesion suspected area. Thereby the magnified observation is performed.At the same time, the mode switch 13 a is operated to put the endoscopesystem 10 into the special observation mode.

In the special observation mode, only the V-LED 20 a and the G-LED 20 care turned on, so that the violet light V and the green light G areapplied simultaneously to the lesion suspected area. The image sensor 48captures an image of the lesion suspected area irradiated with theviolet light V and the green light G. The image sensor 48 outputs theRGB image signals.

Based on the RGB image signals, the base image for use in displaycontrol of the most superficial blood vessel C1A, the superficial bloodvessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 is produced. Also, theblood vessel extraction signal is produced by applying the frequencyfiltering processing to the B image signal. In the blood vesselextraction signal, the output value of the mucous membrane M is set to“0” and the output values of the most superficial blood vessel C1A, thesuperficial blood vessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 areset to “negative”. The edge strengths of the most superficial bloodvessel C1A, the superficial blood vessel C1B, and the middle-layer bloodvessel C2 are calculated from the blood vessel extraction signal. Then,based on the blood vessel extraction signal and the edge strengths, thefirst or second display control image, which is used for controlling thedisplay of the most superficial blood vessel C1A, the superficial bloodvessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2, is produced.

The first or second display control image is superimposed on or combinedwith the base image to produce the first or second special image. Thefirst or second special image is displayed on the monitor 18. In thefirst special image, the most superficial blood vessel C1A, thesuperficial blood vessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 aredisplayed separately or in a distinguishable manner. In the secondspecial image, the most superficial blood vessel C1A, the superficialblood vessel C1B, and the middle-layer blood vessel C2 are selectivelyenhanced or suppressed. The display of the first or second special imageis maintained until the endoscope system 10 is switched to the normalobservation mode by the operation of the mode switch 13 a. Even if theendoscope system 10 is not switched to the normal observation mode, theendoscope 12 is pulled out of the body cavity and the display of theimage on the monitor 18 is stopped after the endoscopic diagnosis iscompleted.

(Second Embodiment)

In the above first embodiment, the color image sensor captures theplurality of image signals necessary for each observation mode at atime. According to a second embodiment, a monochrome image sensorsequentially captures a plurality of image signals necessary for eachobservation mode, instead.

As shown in FIG. 17, the light source device 14 of an endoscope system200 of a frame sequential type is provided with a broadband light source202, a rotary filter 204, and a filter switching unit 205, instead ofthe V-LED 20 a and the like. The imaging optical system 30 b has amonochrome image sensor 206 without color filters, instead of the colorimage sensor 48. Other than those, the structure of the endoscope system200 is the same as that of the endoscope system 10 according to thefirst embodiment.

The broadband light source 202, being a xenon lamp, a white LED, or thelike, emits white light having a wavelength range from blue to redregions. The rotary filter 204 has an inner filter 208 for use in thenormal observation mode and an outer filter 209 for use in the specialobservation mode (see FIG. 18). The filter switching unit 205 shifts therotary filter 204 in its radial direction. In a case where the endoscopesystem 200 is put into the normal observation mode by the operation ofthe mode switch 13 a, the filter switching unit 205 inserts the innerfilter 208 into an optical path of the white light. In a case where theendoscope system 200 is put into the special observation mode, thefilter switching unit 205 inserts the outer filter 209 into the opticalpath of the white light.

Referring to FIG. 18, the inner filter 208 for use in the normalobservation mode includes a B filter 208 a for allowing blue light ofthe white light to pass through, a G filter 208 b for allowing greenlight of the white light to pass through, and an R filter 208 c forallowing red light of the white light to pass through. The B filter 208a, the G filter 208 b, and the R filter 208 c are provided in acircumferential direction. Thus, in the normal observation mode, theblue light, the green light, and the red light are applied sequentiallyto the observation object while the rotary filter 204 is rotated.

The outer filter 209 for use in the special observation mode includes aVn filter 209 a and a Gn filter 209 b provided in the circumferentialdirection. The Vn filter 209 a allows violet light V, which has a centerwavelength of 405 nm and a wavelength range of 380 to 440 nm, of thewhite light to pass through. The Gn filter 209 b allows green narrowbandlight Gn of 530 to 550 nm to pass through. Thus, in the specialobservation mode, the violet light V and the green narrowband light Gnare applied alternately to the observation object while the rotaryfilter 204 is rotated. Note that the broadband light source 202 and theVn filter 209 a of the rotary filter 204 constitute a violet lightemitter of the present invention.

As for the endoscope system 200 of the frame sequential type, themonochrome image sensor 206 captures an image of the observation objectwhenever the blue light, the green light, or the red light is appliedthereto. Thus, the RGB three-color image signals are obtained. Based onthe RGB image signals, a normal image is produced in a like manner asthe above first embodiment. In the special observation mode, on theother hand, the monochrome image sensor 206 captures an image of theobservation object whenever the violet light V or the green narrowbandlight Gn is applied thereto. Thus, a B image signal and a Gn imagesignal (corresponding to the G image signal of the first embodiment) areobtained. Based on the B image signal and the Gn image signal, a firstor second special image is produced in a like manner as the firstembodiment.

(Third Embodiment)

In the above first and second embodiments, imaging is performed underirradiation with the violet light V and the green light G, and the Bimage signal and the G image signal corresponding to the violet light Vand the green light G are obtained to produce the first or secondspecial image. In a third embodiment, the B image signal and the G imagesignal corresponding to the violet light V and the green light G areobtained by spectral calculation based on a broadband image such as awhite light image.

In this case, white light, being broadband light, is emitted from abroadband light source (corresponding to a white light emitter of thepresent invention) in the special observation mode of the endoscopesystem 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, thespecial image processing unit 64 is provided with a spectral calculationunit 300, which performs spectral calculation processing based on RGBimage signals of a white light image captured under the white light. Bythe spectral calculation processing, a B image signal and a G imagesignal corresponding to violet light V (380 to 440 nm) and green light G(480 to 600 nm) included in reflected light of the white light areproduced. According to the third embodiment, a first or second specialimage is produced based on the B image signal and the G image signalproduced by the spectral calculation unit 300, in a manner similar tothe first embodiment. Note that the white light may be generated by useof a phosphor, or broadband light emitted from a broadband light sourcesuch as a xenon lamp.

In the above first and second embodiments, the red light R, in additionto the violet light V and the green light G, may be applied in thespecial observation mode. In this case, all of the RGB image signalscontain the information about the observation object including the bloodvessels, so that the special color converter 74 applies color conversionprocessing, which is represented by the following conversion expressions(1′) to (3′), to each of the RGB image signals.Color-converted R image signal=k1′×R image signal  (1′)Color-converted G image signal=k2′×G image signal  (2′)Color-converted B image signal=k3′×B image signal  (3′)Wherein, “k1′” to “k3′” are positive coefficients.

Note that, the light having the emission spectrums of FIGS. 3 and 4 isused in the first embodiment, but light having another spectrum may beused instead. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, the violet light V maybe changed to light having a center wavelength of 410 to 415 nm and awavelength range on a little longer wavelength side, and the blue lightB may be changed to light having a center wavelength of 445 to 460 nmand a wavelength range on a little shorter wavelength side, while thegreen light G and the red light R are not changed. In this case, theupper limit of the wavelength range of the violet light V needs to beless than 440 nm to calculate the edge strength of each of the bloodvessels C1A, C1B, and C2.

Note that, according to the above embodiments, the present invention isimplemented during the endoscopic diagnosis. Alternatively, the presentinvention may be implemented after completion of the endoscopicdiagnosis and based on an endoscopic image recorded in the storage ofthe endoscope system. The present invention may be applied to a capsuleendoscopic image captured with a capsule endoscope.

Although the present invention has been fully described by the way ofthe preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to thosehaving skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changesand modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, theyshould be construed as included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An endoscope system comprising: an image signalgenerator for imaging a surface of mucous membrane of an observationobject and producing color image signals composed of image signals ofdifferent colors; a base image generator for producing a base imagebased on the color image signals; a frequency filtering processing unitfor applying frequency filtering processing to at least the image signalwith a short wavelength of the color image signals and obtaining a bloodvessel extraction signal in which blood vessels at different depths areextracted, wherein in the blood vessel extraction signal, the bloodvessels are represented by falling edges having negative output valueswith respect to an output value at a portion corresponding to the mucousmembrane, and an absolute value of the output value increases withdecreasing blood vessel depth; an edge strength calculator forcalculating edge strength of the each blood vessel based on the bloodvessel extraction signal, wherein the edge strength increases withdecreasing blood vessel depth, and at least one of the blood vessels atdifferent depths exceeds a predetermined threshold edge strength value;and a special image generator for applying display control processing tothe base image based on the edge strength of the each blood vessel andproducing a special image in which a display of the each blood vessel iscontrolled, wherein the blood vessel having the edge strength less thanthe threshold edge strength value is changed from the falling edge to arising edge in the display control processing.
 2. The endoscope systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the blood vessels in the blood vesselextraction signal include a first-layer blood vessel and a second-layerblood vessel located deeper than the first-layer blood vessel, and thefirst-layer blood vessel is represented by a falling edge with the edgestrength exceeding a predetermined value, and the second-layer bloodvessel is represented by a falling edge with the edge strength less thanor equal to the predetermined value.
 3. The endoscope system accordingto claim 2, wherein the special image is a first special image in whichone of the first and second-layer blood vessels is represented by afalling edge and the other blood vessel is represented by a rising edge.4. The endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the first-layerblood vessel is represented by the falling edge and the second-layerblood vessel is represented by the rising edge in the first specialimage.
 5. The endoscope system according to claim 4, the special imagegenerator including: a first display control image generator forproducing a first display control image from the blood vessel extractionsignal, the falling edge of the second-layer blood vessel being changedto a rising edge in the first display control image; and an imagesuperimposing unit for producing the first special image by adding thefirst display control image to the base image so that the second-layerblood vessel is represented by a rising edge in the first special image.6. The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the special imageis a second special image in which the first-layer and second-layerblood vessels are selectively enhanced or suppressed.
 7. The endoscopesystem according to claim 6, the special image generator including: asecond display control image generator for producing a second displaycontrol image based on the blood vessel extraction signal, an amount forenhancing or suppressing the each blood vessel being determined inaccordance with the edge strength in the second display control image;and a second image superimposing unit for superimposing the seconddisplay control image on the base image and producing the second specialimage.
 8. The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein thefirst-layer blood vessel is a most superficial blood vessel and thesecond-layer blood vessel is a superficial blood vessel or amiddle-layer blood vessel.
 9. The endoscope system according to claim 1,wherein the image signal with the short wavelength corresponds to violetlight having a wavelength range of 380 to 440 nm.
 10. The endoscopesystem according to claim 9, further including: a violet light emitterfor applying the violet light to the observation object, wherein theimage signal with the short wavelength is obtained by imaging theobservation object under the violet light.
 11. The endoscope systemaccording to claim 9, further including: a white light emitter forapplying white light to the observation object; and a spectralcalculation unit for performing spectral calculation based on a whitelight image of the observation object captured under the white light andthereby producing the image signal with the short wavelength.
 12. Theendoscope system according to claim 9, wherein the color image signalsinclude the image signal with a long wavelength which corresponds togreen light in a wavelength range of 480 to 600 nm or green narrowbandlight in a wavelength range of 530 to 550 nm, and the base image isproduced based on the image signal with the short wavelength and theimage signal with the long wavelength.
 13. A processor device connectedto an endoscope having an image signal generator for imaging a surfaceof mucous membrane of an observation object and producing color imagesignals composed of image signals of different colors, the processordevice comprising: a receiver for receiving the color image signals; abase image generator for producing a base image based on the color imagesignals; a frequency filtering processing unit for applying frequencyfiltering processing to at least the image signal with a shortwavelength of the color image signals and obtaining a blood vesselextraction signal in which blood vessels at different depths areextracted, wherein in the blood vessel extraction signal, the bloodvessels are represented by falling edges having negative output valueswith respect to an output value at a portion corresponding to the mucousmembrane, and an absolute value of the output value increases withdecreasing blood vessel depth; an edge strength calculator forcalculating edge strength of the each blood vessel based on the bloodvessel extraction signal, wherein the edge strength increases withdecreasing blood vessel depth, and at least one of the blood vessels atdifferent depths exceeds a predetermined threshold edge strength value;and a special image generator for applying display control processing tothe base image based on the edge strength of the each blood vessel andproducing a special image in which a display of the each blood vessel iscontrolled, wherein the blood vessel having the edge strength less thanthe threshold edge strength value is changed from the falling edge to arising edge in the display control processing.
 14. A method foroperating an endoscope system comprising the steps of: imaging a surfaceof mucous membrane of an observation object and producing color imagesignals composed of image signals of different colors, with an imagesignal generator; producing a base image based on the color imagesignals, with a base image generator; applying frequency filteringprocessing to at least the image signal with a short wavelength of thecolor image signals and obtaining a blood vessel extraction signal inwhich blood vessels at different depths are extracted, with a frequencyfilter processing unit, wherein in the blood vessel extraction signal,the blood vessels are represented by falling edges having negativeoutput values with respect to an output value at a portion correspondingto the mucous membrane, and an absolute value of the output valueincreases with decreasing blood vessel depth; calculating edge strengthof the each blood vessel based on the blood vessel extraction signal,with an edge strength calculator, wherein the edge strength increaseswith decreasing blood vessel depth, and at least one of the bloodvessels at different depths exceeds a predetermined threshold edgestrength value; and applying display control processing to the baseimage based on the edge strength of the each blood vessel and producinga special image in which a display of the each blood vessel iscontrolled, with a special image generator, wherein the blood vesselhaving the edge strength less than the threshold edge strength value ischanged from the falling edge to a rising edge in the display controlprocessing.
 15. The endoscope system according to claim 1, furthercomprising a color enhancer for applying color enhancement processing tothe color image signals, wherein the frequency filtering processing unitapplies the frequency filtering processing to at least the image signalwith a short wavelength of the color-enhanced image signals to obtainthe blood vessel extraction signal.